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Hydroponics Agriculture Gardening Organic Green WallMon, 19 Mar 2018 06:10:47 +0000en-UShourly1http://www.soilless.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/cropped-cropped-soilless_logo333-32x32.pngSoillesshttp://www.soilless.org
3232Welcome to Krishi India Expohttp://www.soilless.org/agriculture/welcome-krishi-india-expo/
http://www.soilless.org/agriculture/welcome-krishi-india-expo/#respondMon, 19 Mar 2018 06:10:47 +0000http://www.soilless.org/?p=1069Welcome to Krishi India Expo Krishi India expo empowers the rural poor. The expo strives to privilege small and marginal farmers who should be treated with dignity and respect for their sustainable advancement. Krishi India supports small and marginal farmers who struggle for survival in India, and have been poor for centuries. The National Sample Survey Office data reveals that 33% of all farm households have less than 0.4 hectares of land. About 50% of agricultural households are indebted. The agriculture census shows the total number of operational holdings in India numbered 138.35 million with an average size of 1.15 hectares. Of the total holdings, 85% are in small and marginal farm categories of less than 2 hectares. With a […]

Krishi India expo empowers the rural poor. The expo strives to privilege small and marginal farmers who should be treated with dignity and respect for their sustainable advancement.

Krishi India supports small and marginal farmers who struggle for survival in India, and have been poor for centuries. The National Sample Survey Office data reveals that 33% of all farm households have less than 0.4 hectares of land. About 50% of agricultural households are indebted. The agriculture census shows the total number of operational holdings in India numbered 138.35 million with an average size of 1.15 hectares. Of the total holdings, 85% are in small and marginal farm categories of less than 2 hectares.

With a land share of just 44%, small and marginal farms are the main providers of food and nutritional security to the nation, but have limited access to technology, inputs, credit, capital and markets. Small and marginal farmers have low marketable surplus and profit, though their productivity is higher compared with large-sized holdings.

To maximize the productivity and net farm income on a sustainable basis, it is essential to develop strategies and agricultural technologies that enable adequate employment and income generation, especially for small and marginal holders, who constitute the vast majority of the farming community.

]]>http://www.soilless.org/agriculture/welcome-krishi-india-expo/feed/011 Medicinal Plants You Can Grow at Homehttp://www.soilless.org/gardening/11-medicinal-plants-can-grow-home/
http://www.soilless.org/gardening/11-medicinal-plants-can-grow-home/#respondWed, 07 Mar 2018 06:27:37 +0000http://www.soilless.org/?p=106611 Medicinal Plants You Can Grow at Home There is an increasing global trend for leading a healthy lifestyle. More people are becoming aware of what they consume and how it affects their bodies. The beauty and health market is also booming, being saturated with all sorts of products that promise wonders from smooth skin to vitality and a better figure.Everybody wants to sell you something so you can look and feel better, but we’ve forgotten that nature provides many alternatives to clinically developed health products.There are all sorts of plants that have medicinal and health qualities and while some of them might require excessive care, others can be grown at home, not only saving you money but also ensuring […]

There is an increasing global trend for leading a healthy lifestyle. More people are becoming aware of what they consume and how it affects their bodies. The beauty and health market is also booming, being saturated with all sorts of products that promise wonders from smooth skin to vitality and a better figure.Everybody wants to sell you something so you can look and feel better, but we’ve forgotten that nature provides many alternatives to clinically developed health products.There are all sorts of plants that have medicinal and health qualities and while some of them might require excessive care, others can be grown at home, not only saving you money but also ensuring that you get a completely organic and natural product.You don’t need to have a garden in order to grow plants, you just need to choose the right plant to grow. The following is a list of medicinal plants that are suitable for growing at home.

Plants with Medicinal Properties

Sage

Sage might be most used in the culinary field but it also has medicinal application as stimulant, antibiotic, and even anti-diabetic. Some of the ailments that can be relieved using sage are heartburn, gingivitis, stomach aches, and even respiratory problems such as asthma. The key factor for growing sage at home is to provide it with enough light and nutrient-rich soil.

Mint

Mint is another commonly used herb but probably not many know that it’s quite easy to grow at home. It’s great for making mojitos but it’s even better as an antioxidant, digestive and vitamin C source. It can also be used to alleviate muscle pain and even headaches. The most important thing you should do when growing mint is water it regularly. If you use a fertilizer make sure that it’s not too strong.

Cilantro

Cilantro is not a herb for everyone’s taste, you either love it or you hate it, but its medicinal values make it worth growing. It’s widely used to remove dark skin spots, which turns it into a strong competitor for many cosmetic products. You just need to mix the leaves with lemon juice and the ointment is ready to use. Just like sage, cilantro needs lots of sunlight and nutrients in order to grow.

Lemon

The lemon is so versatile you might even say it’s a super-fruit. The consumption of lemons lowers the risk of heart related diseases and might even help in the treatment of some cancer types. They are also incredibly rich on vitamin C and antioxidants. The best way to grow it at home is to buy a small lemon tree and put it in a place where it can be exposed to sunlight half of the day.

Mandarin Orange

Mandarin oranges are very good for the body due to their richness in antioxidants, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Again, it’s most recommendable that you purchase a small mandarin orange tree and plant it again when it gets bigger. The most important step in the caring process is watering.

Avocados

Avocados are very good for the body as they are rich in vitamin E and B6, but also have lots of vitamin A, which is said to have cancer prevention properties.Furthermore, they might help with heart disease and eye-related conditions. The best approach is to purchase a small tree and take care of it as it grows but you might also try planting it from a seed.

Chinese Yam

Chinese yam is usually eaten raw and it’s also very easy to grow – it just needs nutrient-rich soil and sunlight. Its consumption helps alleviate conditions like tiredness, poor appetite, digestion issues, coughing, and even mental instability, but it can also be used as an ointment to treat ulcers and abscesses.

Aloe Vera

Aloe is ubiquitous in all sorts of products, from cosmetics to pharmaceuticals and even drinks. When applied externally it is specifically helpful for speeding up the healing process of wounds, cuts, and burns. Make sure you expose it to plenty of sunlight and provide it with drained soil.

Scallions

Scallions are said to have a cancer prevention effect and might even help protect the body from cellular damage. The best thing is that scallions are super easy to grow, you can simply take a store-bought bundle and plant the whole thing as it is, in a container filled with an inch of water. Don’t forget to change the water every day.

Plants that Help with Air Purification

Some plants are beneficial for the body when consumed or applied as ointment, but there are also those that help by just being there. Many plants can be used for air purification and thus increase the living standards of everyone around.

Peace Lily

The peace lily is one of the best examples. It decomposes and eliminates any harmful gases like formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and benzene, but it also serves as an air freshener and room decoration. It needs indirect sunlight and occasional watering.

Bamboo Palm

Bamboo palm is another plant that keeps the air clean, filtering out substances like benzene and trichloroethylene. The plant also looks great as a decorative piece, but have in mind that it can grow to a height of eight feet. When taking care of it, you need to water it moderately and keep it away from chilly places.

]]>http://www.soilless.org/gardening/11-medicinal-plants-can-grow-home/feed/0Regular Maintenance of Your Hydroponic Systemhttp://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/regular-maintenance-hydroponic-system-2/
http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/regular-maintenance-hydroponic-system-2/#respondThu, 23 Nov 2017 06:42:07 +0000http://www.soilless.org/?p=1062Regular Maintenance of Your Hydroponic System Testing the nutrient balance of your liquid solution should be done at least every 3 days. There are several ways to check the pH of the nutrient solution in your hydroponic system. Paper test strips are probably the most inexpensive way to check the pH of the nutrient solution. Liquid pH test kits are the most popular method for the hobby gardener. The Most high-tech way to check pH is to use the digital meters. The most popular type of meter is the digital pen. Checking the water level in your system container should be done at least every 3 days. When adding water to the system, first enhance that water with your nutrient […]

Testing the nutrient balance of your liquid solution should be done at least every 3 days. There are several ways to check the pH of the nutrient solution in your hydroponic system. Paper test strips are probably the most inexpensive way to check the pH of the nutrient solution. Liquid pH test kits are the most popular method for the hobby gardener. The Most high-tech way to check pH is to use the digital meters. The most popular type of meter is the digital pen.

Checking the water level in your system container should be done at least every 3 days. When adding water to the system, first enhance that water with your nutrient solution or you will dilute the container liquid and throw the proper nutrient balance in to a tail-spin.

You should daily check the plants for growth patterns, and to see if any pests or disease has attacked your plants…and then immediately do whatever is necessary to counteract the infection or deficiency.

When plants are full grown (especially herbs) you should consider topping or clipping the plants at the appropriate time so that the plant will acquire new vigor, grow even better, and you will gain the clippings for use in your cooking. Of course, harvest any ripe or fully grown herbs, fruits, or vegetables so that the plant will sprout more produce, and you will then have the advantage of vine-ripened additions to your kitchen.

Just be ever aware of the level of light, whether sunlight or artificial light and wind where the plants are growing so that you are able to adjust for excesses of those items, such as adding or removing screen cloth, or moving the system to a more protected area, as they could damage the plants. Also, if the plants have been subjected to rain, check your nutrient levels quickly to avoid dilution of your liquid sources.

Try to monitor your unit at the time the pumping system should begin to always make sure the pump is working and effective to deliver the nutrients to your plants.

Completely change the nutrient reservoir at least every three weeks.

Periodically, flush a mix of clean water and hydrogen peroxide through your system to keep the piping clean and free of harmful buildup. You should maintain the cleanliness of your system at all times.

That’s it! If you do those things, you will be properly maintaining your system and should see vigorous growth and production throughout the growing cycle.

]]>http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/regular-maintenance-hydroponic-system-2/feed/0The Best Vegetables to Grow Hydroponicallyhttp://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/best-vegetables-grow-hydroponically/
http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/best-vegetables-grow-hydroponically/#respondMon, 30 Oct 2017 08:14:41 +0000http://www.soilless.org/?p=1058While you can grow almost anything hydroponically, some vegetables will thrive in hydroponic systems more than others. What will grow best in your water garden depends on the particular system you decide to use. For beginners, a simple raft system is ideal. It’s easy to make, doesn’t cost much to get going and will give you vegetables much more quickly than conventional gardening methods. Choose vegetables that don’t mind moisture and that don’t get too big for the raft. The Best Vegetables to Grow Hydroponically While you can grow almost anything hydroponically, some vegetables will thrive in hydroponic systems more than others. What will grow best in your water garden depends on the particular […]

]]>While you can grow almost anything hydroponically, some vegetables will thrive in hydroponic systems more than others. What will grow best in your water garden depends on the particular system you decide to use. For beginners, a simple raft system is ideal. It’s easy to make, doesn’t cost much to get going and will give you vegetables much more quickly than conventional gardening methods. Choose vegetables that don’t mind moisture and that don’t get too big for the raft.

The Best Vegetables to Grow Hydroponically

While you can grow almost anything hydroponically, some vegetables will thrive in hydroponic systems more than others. What will grow best in your water garden depends on the particular system you decide to use. For beginners, a simple raft system is ideal. It’s easy to make, doesn’t cost much to get going and will give you vegetables much more quickly than conventional gardening methods. Choose vegetables that don’t mind moisture and that don’t get too big for the raft.

Lettuce

Leaf lettuce is an excellent choice for hydroponic growing. It thrives in the simplest of setups and doesn’t need a lot of extra attention. You can harvest the outer leaves of your lettuce as it grows, meaning that you’ll end up with an extended harvest of crisp, fresh lettuce. As you cut the outer leaves away, the inner leaves quickly grow to take their place. Romaine, Bibb lettuce and any other leafy type of lettuce will thrive. Plant your favorites or use several types to give you some variety.

Leafy Greens

Just like lettuce, most other leafy green vegetables will grow well in a hydroponic system. Spinach not only thrives, but also you get the added advantage of no more sandy grit down in your spinach. Other good leafy green choices are kale, arugula, mustard greens, watercress and Swiss chard. Harvest these all at once or snip off a bit at a time, leaving the rest of the plant to keep growing. Don’t let them get too big for your setup, since overly large greens may suffer from lack of air circulation.

Cucumber

Bush cucumbers will produce bountiful hydroponic crops, but they’re likely to need some support to keep them from tipping over as they grow. Miniature cucumber plants, such as those developed for container growing, work best in a hydroponic raft system. Given enough space and support, any of them will grow. Check the cukes daily once they start to form, since the hydroponic environment may result in plants that grow much faster than you may expect.

Tips

Pay attention to all of the needs of your vegetables, not just things related to hydroponics. No matter how you grow them, cool weather crops still do best when it’s not hot, and warm weather crops love the heat. They also need plenty of light; your vegetables are likely to need at least eight hours per day of direct sunlight. Flowering and fruiting plants need full-spectrum light, but greens grow well under an inexpensive fluorescent shop light placed just above their tops. If you try cucumbers, they’ll need sunlight or a full-spectrum grow light to be able to produce.

]]>http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/best-vegetables-grow-hydroponically/feed/013th International FloraExpo 2018http://www.soilless.org/agriculture/13th-international-floraexpo-2018/
http://www.soilless.org/agriculture/13th-international-floraexpo-2018/#respondFri, 27 Oct 2017 05:58:01 +0000http://www.soilless.org/?p=105413th International FloraExpo 2018 INDIA – World’s 2nd Largest Market. With over 300 million population of middle and higher income group against nearly 1.2 billion population, India is the world’s 2nd largest consumer base and fastest growing retail destination. The increasing per capita income is pushing people to lead a lavish life. Flower decoration in houses is gaining momentum with the changing of life style of the people in India. Thus flower consumption is growing at a whopping speed of 30% per annum. Numerous festivals have added to the demands of flowers and have made India a floral super power of the future. A huge domestic market supports and high quality export oriented flower production is providing a unique […]

With over 300 million population of middle and higher income group against nearly 1.2 billion population, India is the world’s 2nd largest consumer base and fastest growing retail destination. The increasing per capita income is pushing people to lead a lavish life. Flower decoration in houses is gaining momentum with the changing of life style of the people in India. Thus flower consumption is growing at a whopping speed of 30% per annum. Numerous festivals have added to the demands of flowers and have made India a floral super power of the future. A huge domestic market supports and high quality export oriented flower production is providing a unique competitive edge. India, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan along with other countries of the region make South Asia, the world’s largest market and India is emerging as world’s fastest growing flower and gardening market.

Networking Opportunities with Professionals from All Over the Globe

Last Flora Expo attracted professionals from over 16 countries around the world including leading ones from The Netherlands, Japan, UAE, USA, China, Taiwan, Thailand including other South East Asian and Arabian countries. The Exposition has emerged as South Asia’s premier meeting ground for various business dealings in the sector. The forthcoming FLORA EXPO 2018 will be an ideal platform to expand business into new markets both in India and other South Asian Countries.

Trading Opportunity with Buyers from All Over South Asian Nations

India has unique culture of flower consumption in many forms like garlands, flower-carpets, floral rains and floral jewelry, to name a few. FLORA EXPO 2018 will bring you not only conventional flower and gardening industry professionals but also mass buyers from large industry retailers such as home centers, supermarkets, departmental stores, interior designers, and interior shops. The buyers will come from every part of India as well as Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Persian Gulf & Arabian countries and other parts of the world. FLORA EXPO series is the first and the only professional event in India for international suppliers to meet and trade with all importers, buyers, retailers, dealers, garden centers and florists at one place!

India’s Enormous Flower and Gardening Market!!

India is poised to become the top flower trading center in this part of globe. Imports of flowers, seeds, bulbs, planting materials, greenhouse technologies and gardening related tools, accessories and equipment from all over the world are increasing every year because industry professionals in India are looking for new products, techniques and devices that are highly effective and cost-efficient for upgrading of knowledge and their business.

For international exhibitors, 13th International Flora Expo 2018 is the gateway to realize the huge potential of South Asian market as a year-round supplier and consumer. Meet everyone at 13th International Flora Expo 2018, concurrently with 12th International Landscape & Gardening Expo 2018, 10th International Horti Expo 2018, and 4thAgrex India 2018 at Pune, Maharashtra.

Why Pune?

Maharashtra is a leading Indian state in commercial horticulture, floriculture and allied interests. It is the largest producer and exporter of many horticulture crops like grapes, pomegranates, mangoes, bananas, oranges, etc. and the largest cut flowers and plant producing state of India. Greenhouse concept, an integral part of horticulture, was first introduced in India through Maharashtra. Since then, it has been home to major greenhouse manufacturers and accessories suppliers. Talegaon Floriculture Park, situated near Pune, is a unique example of cluster based approach of floriculture in India. Pune, our venue, has some of the biggest floriculture production centers, spread across 100 to 200 kilometres radius. It has become a major hub for international breeders and planting material suppliers and the ultra-modern tissue culture labs for horticulture and floriculture industry. In nursery and garden centers trade, it is a major producer of high quality ornamental flowers, trees and pot plants, it also caters to the demand of emerging landscape and vertical gardening industry. It also enjoys a locational advantage of being close to Mumbai, where India’s biggest perishable cargo complex exists, enabling quick export of these products. Enjoying these advantages, Pune undoubtedly has been Media Today’s prime choice for organizing the 13th edition of Flora Expo 2018, 12th International Landscape & Gardening Expo, 10th International Horti Expo 2018, and 4th Agrex India 2018.

]]>http://www.soilless.org/agriculture/13th-international-floraexpo-2018/feed/0Simple Guide to Vertical Farming at Homehttp://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/simple-guide-vertical-farming-home/
http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/simple-guide-vertical-farming-home/#respondThu, 26 Oct 2017 08:04:44 +0000http://www.soilless.org/?p=1050Simple Guide to Vertical Farming at Home The Concept of Vertical Farming For starters, vertical farming is the practice of producing food in vertically stacked layers, such as: in a skyscraper, used warehouse or shipping container and very recently, in the comfort of our homes. Here is a simple guide to vertical farming at home. In simple terms, vertical farming is the growing of plants in layers. The prevailing concepts of vertical farming make use of indoor farming techniques and CEA Technology (controlled environmental agriculture), a case where it is possible and easy to control all environmental factors such as: the utilization of the artificial control of light, fertigation (The injection of fertilizers, soil amendments and water soluble products into an […]

The Concept of Vertical Farming

For starters, vertical farming is the practice of producing food in vertically stacked layers, such as: in a skyscraper, used warehouse or shipping container and very recently, in the comfort of our homes. Here is a simple guide to vertical farming at home.

In simple terms, vertical farming is the growing of plants in layers.

The prevailing concepts of vertical farming make use of indoor farming techniques and CEA Technology (controlled environmental agriculture), a case where it is possible and easy to control all environmental factors such as: the utilization of the artificial control of light, fertigation (The injection of fertilizers, soil amendments and water soluble products into an irrigation system) and environmental control of humidity, temperature and gases present in the environment. The use of sunlight is also employed by some by some vertical farms, a case similar to greenhouses where sunlight is amplified using artificial lightening and metal reflectors.

Methods Employed in Vertical Farming

Over the years, various methods have been employed in modern vertical farming which includes the use of Skyscraper, used warehouse or shipping container. Several other technologies have been suggested and are been researched upon and they include: greenhouse, compositing, grow light, phytoremediation, precision agriculture, vertical growing architectures, hydroponics, flowerpot, agricultural robot, to mention a few.

Vertical farming is an innovative, effortless and highly productive farming technique especially in vegetable farming. The technique makes use of the various required resources to allow plants grow vertically as opposed to the conventional use of the surface of the horizon.

Vertical Farming at Home

Inventors and innovators have over the years come up with several ideas on how to practice vertical farming in the comfort of our homes and this includes the DIY indoor vertical farm, an automated invention that has its environmental and nutritional control on your mobile device.

One factor however is widely neglected when a vertical farm is been planned and that is; the energy required for the construction and operational bustles of vertical farms which essentially works against the ecological advantages. Several low tech vertical farming systems have been introduced, such as the Window farms, which employs the use of lamps, pumps, and electricity and is based on the concept of hydroponics.

Another is the ELIOOO which is actually not a device but manual that explains steps in building, operating and maintaining a variety of indoor farms which range from the small windowsill herb planter to a large mobile vertical garden. The ELIOOO is also based on the principle of Hydroponics which is revered for its ecological benefits, alongside its practical and design advantages.

Hydroponics, which essentially means growing plants in water instead of soil make less use of water than the usual farming methods, about 90% less water. The system requires lesser space and it also makes growing easier as it gives users total control of the required plant nutrient at each growing stage.

Another widely accepted vertical farm is the DIY vertical farm, a robotic vertical garden which requires some hardware store parts making up the structure, electronic pieces peculiar to the design. Indoor gardening requirement such as efficient and sufficient growing light, fans, a Carbon dioxide burner, in some cases, a grow tent and some other elements depending on the farmer’s interest.

Requirements for Vertical Farming at Home

Running a vertical farm at home may not be so cheap after all, at least when starting up as it requires potential vertical farmers to purchase and install hardware components, which may be expensive, it also requires a constant supply of electricity as the systems are automated. The technological ingenuity of the systems employed for vertical farming are in some cases high tech, thus stating the need for some level of knowhow in operating the systems.

Guide to Vertical Garden at you Home Kitchen

A much easier method has however been designed by Belgian Professor Willem Van Cottehem, a vertical kitchen garden system. This involved the transformation of normal plastic bottles into efficient containers on a container rack and can be used for growing various kinds of plants, young trees inclusive. The water supply can be automated without having to source for electricity. With this method, there is hardly any use of water a phenomenon achieved through the minimization of evaporation and it is low cost due to the use of waste materials and it surly is a system that can be used regardless of financial constraints.

Starting a bottle tower garden as described by the professor requires:

Get 6 plastic bottles of required number

Cut off the bottom of each bottle, leaving the lid of two of the bottles, to be used as the bottom bottle of the tower and funnel.

Two holes are perforated on bottle, few centimeters from the top of the lid, one on either side. Holes are to serve as drainage where surplus water can be expelled.

Pot soil, a mixture of manure and dirt is filled up to a few centimeters from the bottom.

The next three bottles are also filled with pot soil and all four bottles placed on upon the bottom bottle, vertically.

Another bottle, also without its lid on (the funnel) is then placed on the tower.

The last bottle, with a tiny hole on its lid is pushed in to the empty funnel serves as the water tank that supplies the tower with water running slowly through its tiny hole.

The whole network is to be held firmly together.

Small windows are made on the soil filled bottles through which the root of seedlings and young plants are planted.

The importance of Vertical Farming in a world of ever-increasing population cannot be over emphasized. Having a vertical farm at home means one would be able to save more money in terms of buying food. The controlled nutrition of plants also means that the produce of such farms are expected to be of a higher nutritional value which is good for human health. Vertical farms also ensures secure food security, the preservation of endangered species of plants and the conservation of resources, particularly land, as it is limited in availability.

]]>http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/simple-guide-vertical-farming-home/feed/0New Trends in Hydroponic Growinghttp://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/new-trends-hydroponic-growing/
http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/new-trends-hydroponic-growing/#respondWed, 25 Oct 2017 07:06:43 +0000http://www.soilless.org/?p=1046New Trends in Hydroponic Growing Like any high-tech field, the hydro industry is constantly evolving. Scientists are continually increasing our knowledge of plant physiology and this knowledge, in turn, affects the technological advancements in the hardware used for indoor growing. Serious gardeners are always trying to follow the latest advancements to increase productivity or efficiency. Although it is impossible to know exactly where hydroponic gardening will go in the future, we can look at some of the trends and recent scientific advancements to make some predictions. I believe we will continue to see advancements in all aspects of hydroponic gardening, including lighting, nutrition, the actual systems themselves, and the ways hydro systems are used in our society. Hydroponic Lighting […]

Like any high-tech field, the hydro industry is constantly evolving. Scientists are continually increasing our knowledge of plant physiology and this knowledge, in turn, affects the technological advancements in the hardware used for indoor growing. Serious gardeners are always trying to follow the latest advancements to increase productivity or efficiency. Although it is impossible to know exactly where hydroponic gardening will go in the future, we can look at some of the trends and recent scientific advancements to make some predictions. I believe we will continue to see advancements in all aspects of hydroponic gardening, including lighting, nutrition, the actual systems themselves, and the ways hydro systems are used in our society.

Hydroponic Lighting

At the heart of any indoor garden is the lighting system. Over the last 10 years, advancements in horticultural lighting have been astounding:

High intensity discharge (HID) lighting systems have seen some tremendous advancements and will continue to improve in terms of efficiency.

Double-ended lighting systems will continue to grow in popularity over the next few years, as they offer multiple advantages over standard HID lighting systems, including increased efficiency and longevity.

With its unique spectral output, sulfur plasma lighting is poised to become more common as a primary lighting source for indoor gardens in the years to come, as improvements to manufacturing techniques help lower the price of these systems.

LED lighting systems seem like old news, but their ability to tailor light spectrums to meet the needs of specific types of plants put them ahead of other lighting technologies for future potential.

Nutrients for Hydroponic Gardens

Hydroponic nutrients are continually undergoing advancements. We are already starting to see specialty nutrients that “self-buffer” to the desired pH range. I believe we will continue to see an increase in these self-buffering nutrients, along with other time-release, fully soluble nutrients capable of maintaining more consistent ppm and pH levels. Nutrient manufacturers are getting better at combining various elements into stable, one-part formulas. I predict the number of complete, one-part nutrient formulas will increase, particularly as we see more novice gardeners trying hydroponics.

Hydroponic Systems and Vertical Growing

All hydroponic systems are essentially nutrient delivery systems. Vertical growing systems have revolutionized many hydroponic farms across the globe, allowing for major increases in production per area. Vertical growing is a perfect solution for dense urban areas where space is limited. More vertical hydroponic systems are being built onto the sides of buildings and other structures and this trend will only increase in scope.

Hybrid systems, which combine the benefits of multiple hydroponic systems, will also climb in popularity. Systems that focus on maximizing oxygen to the roots, along with effectively delivering nutrients, will continue to shape the future of hydroponic systems. Another shift to look for in the next few years is more kits that contain everything a gardener needs to begin growing, including lighting and nutrients. These systems are already popular, but will become even more so as more people try hydroponics for the first time.

Self-contained hydroponic gardens that can be built into kitchens are also something to look for. These self-contained “appliances” will be hard-wired, plumbed in and will look just like a dishwasher. As more people start to understand the immense benefits of growing their own food, the need for these types of complete hydroponic systems designed for use in the home will increase.

Micro Growing for Microgreens

Similar to the hydroponic appliances for kitchens, automated hydroponic systems aimed at growing microgreens, such as sprouts, will become more popular. The systems designed for producing microgreens and grasses won’t stop in our kitchens, though—an increasing number of farmers are using hydroponic systems to grow fodder for their livestock. Hydroponic systems used for growing fodder are not only cost effective, but they also provide a superior food source for livestock.

Sustainable Systems

Aquaponics—the combination of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponic gardening—is a sustainable approach to food production because these systems use fish waste to feed plants and plants to filter the water for the fish in a perfect, natural circle. As we continue to deplete our resources, growing crops sustainably is going to become even more important and aquaponic systems are a great way to efficiently produce food on both a small and large scale. Chickens, rabbits, worms, crickets and other animals are also being integrated into sustainable hydroponic gardens. As more people experiment with different strategies, more of these unique biological hydroponic systems will be developed.

Applications for Restaurants and Grocery Stores

Some of the latest trends in hydroponic growing are not directly related to advancements to the systems themselves, but to the application of these systems. Restaurants and grocery stores are starting to incorporate hydroponic systems into their business models as a way to provide the freshest produce possible. Living salad bars allow businesses to provide fresh produce and set themselves apart from their competitors. The farm-to-table movement has many restaurants interested in setting up their own hydroponic farms to provide customers with fresh food on-site. Not only is this a great novelty to sell to customers, but it also makes good financial sense. Another growing trend in hydroponics is the rooftop gardening movement. I believe we will see more rooftop or vertical, wall-mounted hydroponic systems being incorporated into the specs of new buildings to increase urban food production.

Other Integrated Technologies

Going forward, many other cutting-edge technologies will be integrated into hydroponic systems on a more regular basis. Solar panels, which provide power to submersible pumps and other accessories, are increasing in popularity, especially in aquaponic systems, where self-sufficiency is the goal. As we get better at harnessing the power of the sun, and if the price of solar power systems continues to drop, we will see an increasing number of indoor growers using this technology to offset the electrical costs of operating an indoor hydroponic garden. Although fiber optic solar collection systems may be years away from being a practical solution, fiber optics is another type of technology that will surely revolutionize indoor gardening systems.

]]>http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/new-trends-hydroponic-growing/feed/0What are the fundamentals of setting up an NFT systemhttp://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/fundamentals-setting-nft-system/
http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/fundamentals-setting-nft-system/#respondSat, 14 Oct 2017 06:51:47 +0000http://www.soilless.org/?p=1043What are the fundamentals of setting up an NFT system Nutrient film technique (NFT) is a recirculating hydroponic system where nutrient solution flows down a set of channels (also known as gullies). The solution is pumped from a holding tank, through irrigators at the top of every sloping channel and the run-off from the bottom of the channels is returned to the tank. A simple fundamental layout is shown in Figure 1. (Note that this schematic has the pump above the tank, in which case it would need to be a self-priming pump. Usually the pump would either be external to the bottom of the tank—to give a positive suction head; or else, a submersible pump within the tank.) […]

Nutrient film technique (NFT) is a recirculating hydroponic system where nutrient solution flows down a set of channels (also known as gullies). The solution is pumped from a holding tank, through irrigators at the top of every sloping channel and the run-off from the bottom of the channels is returned to the tank. A simple fundamental layout is shown in Figure 1. (Note that this schematic has the pump above the tank, in which case it would need to be a self-priming pump. Usually the pump would either be external to the bottom of the tank—to give a positive suction head; or else, a submersible pump within the tank.)

NFT principles
Plant roots require oxygen in order to respire, that is, to make use of the energy input from photosynthesis. In the process of respiration, plant cells take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. If roots cannot respire (often because they are waterlogged with water that has run out of dissolved oxygen), they will die.

The thing that is unique about NFT is the fundamental requirement that the plant roots are in a flowing thin film of nutrient solution. The impact of the thin film is twofold. Firstly, some of the roots in the channel will be directly in contact with the air. Secondly, when dissolved oxygen in the water is taken up by the submerged plant roots, this oxygen can be replaced by absorption through the large surface area of thin water film.

A well designed NFT system will never have a problem with a lack of oxygen in the root zone. Bad design will eventually lead to plants dying from lack of oxygen, often resulting in total loss of the crop.

By its nature, a basic principle of NFT is that it is a ‘closed’ recirculating system.

History
The technique was first developed in the 1960s as a research tool by Dutch researcher H.C.M. de Stigter of the Plant Physiological Research Centre. The commercial potential of this technique was recognised and its further development was led by Dr Allen Cooper of the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute (GCRI) in the UK. NFT development continued over the 1970s and a number of large-scale UK commercial glasshouse growers converted completely to NFT, mainly growing tomatoes and lettuce. However, almost all have now changed to media-based systems, mostly using rockwool or cocopeat.

Since then the technique has spread across the world, especially in hobby-sized systems. However, commercially it is mainly used to grow short-term vegetative crops such as lettuce, herbs and Asian greens. Of commercial hydroponics (soilless culture) around the world, NFT contributes probably only about 3% of the total area, by far the largest proportion of which is in Australia using NFT channels on tables and mobile gully systems.

Channel design

Shape
The basic requirement is that the shape of the cross-section of the channel should allow the solution flow to have a basically flat profile. Consequently, the worst profile is a circular tube; although growers who have nursery channels to get lettuce started before transplanting will sometimes use small circular pipes).

The other aspect of shape is the width of channel. This needs to allow for the size of the root mat of the mature crop intended to be grown in the channel. Typical widths are: 100mm (4 inch) for short-term crops such as lettuce and herbs, etc; 150mm (6 inch) for longer term, but relatively small plants such as strawberries; 200mm (8 inch) or preferably wider, for longer term large crops such as tomatoes. To ensure that water flow contacts small young plants, specialist channel profiles have a dip or small ribs running down the base. For large channels, a narrow strip of capillary matting can be placed across the channel under the new plant.

Slope
The GCRI recommendations were initially for a minimum slope of 1 in 100 down the channel, later increased to 1 in 75. Both of these were intended for layflat plastic channels placed on accurately smoothed concrete floors. In Australia, for rigid channels placed as tables on supports we recommend 1 in 40 (or 2.5%) to allow for some sagging between the supports. A general principle is that ‘dead spots’ are to be avoided.

Length
Length interacts with slope, but for a slope of 1 in 40 the usual maximum length recommended is 12m (40ft). For flatter slopes, it is recommended to have a maximum length of only 6m (20 ft).

Layout
In Australia, the growing of hydroponic lettuce, herbs and Asian greens is usually done on tables at a convenient working height as shown in Figure 2. The produce is often sold as living plants.

Flow rate
When using wide channels to grow large plants such as tomatoes, a flow rate of up to 2 litres per minute per channel is used. For the 100mm-wide channels growing much smaller plants, a flow rate of about 0.5 litres per minute per channel is used. For steeper slopes, a higher flow rate may be needed. For insurance against blockages, two irrigators are often put into the top of each channel.

Tank size
The working capacity of the tank determines how much nutrient solution is held per plant. The smaller the volume of solution held per plant, the more unstable the system can become. For systems without automatic pH and EC control, obviously these properties can be affected. However, other major properties to change significantly, whether there is automatic control or not, are solution temperature and nutrient balance, which can be the unrecognised cause of problems. For example, a downside to pH control is that it can add substantial amounts of acid and hence significantly change the solution nutrient balance.

Put another way—to save money by buying a small tank can come back to bite you through solution instability. For small plant systems I recommend 0.5 litre, or preferably more, per plant working capacity; and for large plants, at least 2 litre per plant.

]]>http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/fundamentals-setting-nft-system/feed/0Considering Common Hydroponic System Problemshttp://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/considering-common-hydroponic-system-problems/
http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/considering-common-hydroponic-system-problems/#respondThu, 12 Oct 2017 07:55:12 +0000http://www.soilless.org/?p=1040Considering Common Hydroponic System Problems Hydroponic systems, whether homemade or store bought, suffer from a few common problems. These problems include algae growth, leaks, clogs, inconvenience of use, the temperamental nature of some systems, (which make them high maintenance), and the expense of maintaining and reusing different types of systems. Algae Growth Every hydroponic gardening system uses water and plant nutrients. Unfortunately, wherever you have water, nutrients, and light you will eventually have algae growth. This is a big problem because algae attracts fungus gnats, and fungus gnats will damage the roots of your plants. To prevent algae, a hydroponic system must limit the exposure of the nutrient solution to light wherever possible. The nutrient reservoir should be made […]

Hydroponic systems, whether homemade or store bought, suffer from a few common problems. These problems include algae growth, leaks, clogs, inconvenience of use, the temperamental nature of some systems, (which make them high maintenance), and the expense of maintaining and reusing different types of systems.

Algae Growth

Every hydroponic gardening system uses water and plant nutrients. Unfortunately, wherever you have water, nutrients, and light you will eventually have algae growth. This is a big problem because algae attracts fungus gnats, and fungus gnats will damage the roots of your plants. To prevent algae, a hydroponic system must limit the exposure of the nutrient solution to light wherever possible. The nutrient reservoir should be made from a dark or opaque material. The nutrient reservoir should have a lid. Holes in the reservoir lid should be no bigger than the hydroponic pump hose and the water return pipe.

The system itself should be relatively light proof. The weak spot in many systems is where the plant holes have been manufactured in the system. Plant holes should be no bigger than necessary to hold the growth medium (i.e. a netted pot or rockwool cube). If the growth medium is being watered from above, such as with a drip system, a cap should be used over the medium to minimize the exposed area. Drip emitters can also be made to run underneath a light proof cap, but this will prevent you from seeing drip emitters that have clogged. Any plant holes not being used should be capped or covered with dark or opaque material.

Hydroponic System Leaks

High pressure systems are more likely to leak than low pressure systems. The most common source for leaks in a hydroponic system are stab fittings and drip/spray emitters that slip out of position. Less often, root growth can cause leaks in a constantly flowing system by causing water to back up and spill out when there is not enough room in the tubes.

During a power failure, I once witnessed all the nutrient solution drain from a system back into the nutrient reservoir- which was about 10 gallons too small. I have also seen a high pressure pump that was not connected tightly enough suddenly blow off it’s exhaust hose and soak down the room. Many leak issues can be avoided simply by using a hydroponic system designed around a low pressure pump, such as a NFT system or a DWC system. Further leaks can be prevented by using a nutrient reservoir large enough to hold all the water in your system, and by using pipes large enough to handle the systems water flow even after significant root growth.

Clogs

Clogs cause the most problems with drip systems and spray systems (including aeroponics). Drip/spray systems use high pressure pumps to force nutrient solution through very tiny openings. Nutrient filters and pre-filters can reduce the occurrence of clogging but will not eliminate it. If you choose one of these systems, be prepared to spend extra time each day checking every spray nozzle/drip head and replacing any that have stopped working.

Convenience of Use

How easy is it to clean a hydroponic system in between uses, and how easy is it to do a nutrient solution change while the system is in use. An “easy to clean” system offers easy access to every surface inside the system, either by hand or with a brush. A system can be a headache to clean if there is no lid and the holes are too small, or if there are tight corners or unreachable bends.

A system should be easy to empty of it’s nutrient solution, and the process should disturb the plants/plant roots as little as possible. A system should retain very little of it’s original nutrient solution when emptied. The whole nutrient solution change should only take three or four minutes, assuming you have a reservoir of room temperature water ready to replace the old nutrient solution (plus a few extra minutes to check and adjust the new solution).

Temperamental Nature of Some Systems

The main concern here is how much time you have to spend checking and babysitting a particular system. Every system will need it’s nutrient solution checked and adjusted at least once a day, but some systems need to be checked much more often to prevent other problems. Drip systems should be checked two or three times each day to make sure the emitters have not clogged- a few hours without nutrient solution could kill a plant (especially in a fast draining medium).

The same is true for spray systems, especially aeroponics. If you are using no growing medium at all, then your nutrient solution drains immediately into thin air. No medium means no buffer zone protecting the roots of your plants. If a spray nozzle clogs in an aeroponic system, your plants could die in less than an hour. I suggest checking aeroponic systems four times a day or more, not only to check for clogged spray heads but also to check for broken pumps and power failures (which would be equally damaging).

The most reliable/least temperamental hydroponic systems are DWC systems and NFT systems. These systems are low maintenance and need to be checked only once a day.

Expense of Cleaning/Reusing a System

One of the main expense with reusing a hydroponic system comes when you have to replace all of the grow medium. If you are using rockwool, for example, you have to throw out all of the old rockwool and replace it with new rockwool for each new crop. This can easily be a $100.00 expense (or more), even in a small system. Other systems use netted pots filled with expanded clay pellets, lava rocks, or other reusable grow medium.

Another solution is to use a DWC system or NFT system, which use very little grow medium and mostly grow the plant roots in standing nutrient solution (with air bubblers). These choices not only save you the headache of having to dispose of the old grow medium… over time, they also save you a considerable amount of money.

]]>http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/considering-common-hydroponic-system-problems/feed/06 BENEFITS OF URBAN FARMING VS. TRADITIONAL FARMINGhttp://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/6-benefits-urban-farming-vs-traditional-farming/
http://www.soilless.org/hydroponics/6-benefits-urban-farming-vs-traditional-farming/#respondWed, 11 Oct 2017 11:25:02 +0000http://www.soilless.org/?p=10356 BENEFITS OF URBAN FARMING VS. TRADITIONAL FARMING During the past years, urban farming aka. growing food in urban areas has become a world-wide trend, and it keeps on growing (pun intended). It has become stylish, it is being claimed to be the future of food, and new “smart gardening” brands are popping up faster than ever. But what is it that makes urban farming so irresistible and seemingly superior to traditional farming in the century of urbanization? It’s more productive With the help of urban farming, one can produce even so much as 100 times more food than with regular farming (per square foot). How is it possible? It’s all about the direction – most urban farms […]

During the past years, urban farming aka. growing food in urban areas has become a world-wide trend, and it keeps on growing (pun intended). It has become stylish, it is being claimed to be the future of food, and new “smart gardening” brands are popping up faster than ever. But what is it that makes urban farming so irresistible and seemingly superior to traditional farming in the century of urbanization?

It’s more productive

With the help of urban farming, one can produce even so much as 100 times more food than with regular farming (per square foot). How is it possible? It’s all about the direction – most urban farms are designed vertically, that allows to grow produce in as many levels as possible on a square foot. So, if you have 2 square feet of free space in your apartment, instead of having a corner of soil with lettuce growing there and moulding your nicely-finished walls, you can simply have a tasteful-looking urban farming system with lettuce growing in shelves…or behind your walls!

Ever heard of weather decreasing the yield in a certain year? Weather is a actually a very, very minor factor for food production via urban farming, since it usually takes place indoors and relies on the water system installed, artificial lighting, and nutrients already worked-in in the soil.

It’s more sustainable

Most urban gardening systems lead to considerable water, power and space savings. If we talk about the systems, they use about 90% less water and 4 times less space, if compared to traditional farming. Many point out that starting an urban farm might be costly. In reality, an urban farm for $500 will “earn back” itself in a year.

But why make the investment? The thing is that that water, power and space savings aren’t financially sustainable only. The more we switch our everyday food production to urban farms rather than regular farms, the more we decrease the development of drought, soil erosion and similar problems.

Organic produce becomes more accessible

Urban farming forces farmers to grow crop in an even more controlled and conscious manner, which leads to more possibilities to grow organic food without extra investment. How is it possible? The main reason something isn’t organic is because the farmer is forced to use chemical pesticides to ensure a good yield when the environmental factors are not crop-friendly. As we mentioned above, the weather, the environmental factor is reduced to minimum in urban farming, so there is no actual need for using chemical growth regulators. All it takes is a good quality soil that contains nutrients (and as we can see from our Smart Soil, there is no need to use harsh chemicals to ensure 99.9% productivity), excellent lighting system and good quality water.

It’s small space friendly

Imagine Hong Kong, Dubai, London or New York. Not much space for growing your own, fresh food the traditional way, is there? Yes, you can have a tradition herb pot here and there, but it is not going to feed you. And if you do want to grow enough to be able to use the harvest for at least a week straight, you will be forced to have flowerpots everywhere. Literally, EVERYWHERE – on your bathroom sink, under your bathroom sink, under your bed, around your bed, on shelves, in cupboards… Oh, wait, they need light. Bigass windowsills all around the place it is. Quite impossible, is it?

Urban farms make the life in the city much, much easier. Most of them are compact, neatly-designed “closets” with several shelves, able to grow tens of different plant on each shelf. Sounds a bit better than sleeping with a pot of basil on your pillow, doesn’t it? It becomes not only a food-growing unit, but also a design element, a statement piece. And you can place it even in the darkest corner possible.

It enables you to enjoy fresh produce all-year-round

Those who have dealt with traditional farming, know that each product naturally has its season. Asparagus come up in spring, basil has to be sowed anywhere from March till June, and strawberries can be harvested in late June and throughout July. If we want to have a certain crop earlier, plant engineers and pesticide producers have to put their heads together to figure something out.

Since the environmental and season factor is minimized to almost a zero in urban farming, it is possible to harvest anything any time. You can forget about the best sowing times indicated on seed packets and climate requirements of each plant. Want fresh, home-grown strawberries in December or freshly-grown lettuce every two weeks? No problem at all. Once one plant has grown and is ready to be harvested, you can immediately replace it with a new soil & seed cartridge. No muss, no fuss.

It’s simple

If you haven’t realised it already, urban farming is dead simple. The gardening skill and green thumbs that are necessary in traditional farming, are being replaced with technology in urban farming. If you own an urban farm, you are able to continuously grow fresh food for yourself and your family all-year-round without ever needing to touch soil, get dirty, put seeds anywhere or fertilise. At least with Click & Grow systems, it has already been taken care of. All that is required from your side is pulling off stickers, sticking cartridges in the right spots and pushing buttons in an app to water the plants. When the farm tells you to.